As the word spreads

Introduction:

Matthew 11-12 speaks to Jesus’ rejection.

Matthew 11:18–19 “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.””

Matthew 11:20 “Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.”

Matthew 11:25 “At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;”

The Word is intentionally proclaimed

Sown along the path (13.18-19)

Does not ‘understand’

Satan removes it from his heart (13.12)

(13.4) - “foot path” - marked boundaries and went through middle of field (12.1)

Example

Many studies with one.

Prayed over the journey.

Prayed over the person.

Spent much time.

No real challenge to the logic of the Gospel.

Strong emphasis on the heart of Jesus.

Then… nothing.

Sown on rocky ground (13.20-21)

Receives the word with joy

(13.5-6) - “rocky ground” - no roots for moisture during hot weather (Luke 8.6)

At the slightest opposition/hardship falls away

Example

Got him to start coming to church

baptized and excited

had private studies

then a clear mind shift

sporadic until gone

reaching out to him, a switch clearly flipped

the life he’d known had too much appeal

no more time or desire for church

Sown in weeds (13.22)

Social and economic concerns occupy its time

(13.7) - “thorns” - grew for a period and then the weeds choked it out

Does little of eternal worth

Example

He’d been in the church for some time

Could tell recall decades of life with Christian people

spoke often of living with Christ to him

What the world calls “all in” but God calls born again

Too much concern for this world

Hung out with unbelievers all the time, never to work for their salvation

Always at the lake, the ball field, vacations, making more and more money, movies, netflix, golf, on and on

His was not consumed by Jesus, too busy consuming this life

Sown in good soil (13.23)

Understands

(13.8) - “good soil” - ‘increasing and yielding’ (Mark 4.8)

Fruitful and multiplies

Example

The one who wanted to learn more about Jesus

Was baptized

Had temptations and battles but remained

Sought purity, chose a wife and is raising godly children

Grew beyond me, meaning is faith stands without me

Has spent years reaching out to the lost and showing the example of Jesus

Has multiplied fruit

Conclusion:

Read Matthew 13:18-23

Matthew reversed marks mention of fruit - 100, 60, 30 instead of 30, 60, 100 (Mark 4.20)

Emphasis in this parable is on failure

It explains the cool response Jesus is experiencing - the failure of Jesus’ teaching to bring Israel to repentance.

Points:

Do not measure success in numbers, but in working alongside God.

God will not trump the free will of men and women.

Now is the time to be intentional in reaching the lost.

Romans 13:11–12 “Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”

God will prepare the soil, we must prepare ourselves.

The Preacher’s Notebook: The Collected Quotes, Illustrations, and Prayers of John Stott An Example of Henry Trumbull’s Approach to Evangelism

H. C. Trumbull was traveling one November from New York to Boston in [a] crowded train. [He] sat next to [a] red-faced young sea captain who presently took out a large bottle of whiskey and a metal drink cup and offered them to him. [He] declined. Later [this was] repeated. “Don’t you ever drink, my friend?” “No, my friend, I do not.” “Well, I guess you think I am a pretty rough fellow.” Trumbull then, instead of rebuking him for evil ways, graciously replied, “I think you are a very generous hearted fellow.”

They got into conversation. H. C. T. found he was going home to Massachusetts for Thanksgiving. “I asked him about his mother, and he spoke lovingly and tenderly of her. He said he knew she was praying for him constantly. This brought us into close quarters …” (pp. 80–82).